‘Why ex-Lagos gov’ll not back VP if he quits race’
Osinbajo’s eyes set on Presidency, stakeholders allege
BY ROTIMI DUROJAIYE
As the journey towards the 2023 general election gets nearer, it is crystal clear that the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, will lock horns with his former boss and political godfather, Bola Tinubu, in the race to Aso Rock.
Many events that are unfolding daily are bringing in a lot of permutations that the bid by Osinbajo to succeed his boss, President Muhammadu Buhari, is already gaining traction.
Although, Osinbajo has not declared interest in the 2023 presidential race, his loyalists believe he perfectly ticked the box of the next president of the country as visualised by former military ruler, Ibrahim Babangida.
Babangida had suggested during a recent television interview, that individuals in their 60s should be the focus of Nigerians as potential presidential or vice presidential candidates in 2023.
Babangida said such persons should have deep knowledge of the economy, must have contacts across the nation and must have traversed the geo-political zones, marketing their acceptability and capacity.
With this submission, political analysts believe that the former military president may have ruled out a former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and Tinubu, from the 2023 presidential race, because they would be in their 70s by the next election.
With less than 500 days to the presidential election, various support groups of the Vice President are no longer waiting for his official declaration as they have embarked on political journeys to some states selling his candidacy and the need to continue the legacy of Buhari after 2023.
For Osinbajo, the journey to that point of departure from his political mentor and Lagos strongman might have started at his birthday in March 2020 when Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State said he was asked by the APC Progressives Governors Forum to deliver an address on their behalf.
“We have the opportunity of having a gentleman that is a total party person loyal to Mr. President. And I believe you are selling him earlier than he is selling himself, which is the way it is supposed to be
“
Abdullahi, who spoke on the need for the party to consolidate on its achievements after Buhari leaves office, just managed to leave a hint that the Vice President’s feet might fit the presidential shoes when the time comes.
Shortly thereafter, a group that improved on Abdullahi’s birthday hint emerged.
Called Progressive Coalition Group, its sole purpose is political: To campaign for Osinbajo to become president in 2023.
Osinbajo has neither expressed his interest in running for political office in 2023 nor has he rejected the group.
On September 20, 2021, the group launched its ambition in a big way.
It paid a visit to the same Governor Sule at Government House in Lafia, Nasarawa State capital.
While receiving the group, Sule restated his earlier position that Osinbajo had all it takes to run and win the 2023 presidential election.
The group, which also visited the Nasarawa State House of Assembly and the palace of the Emir of Lafia and chairman of the Nasarawa State Council of Traditional Rulers, Justice Sidi Bage (retd), to solicit support for Osinbajo as Buhari’s successor, was led by its national chairman, Rabiu Aliyu Kurfi.
Sule told the group, “Not every product is sellable, but Vice President Osinbajo is a sellable product. You are speaking about continuation, which is what we believe here in Nasarawa State. You have been speaking about consolidation and we know the challenges of consolidation and continuation of our party. This is a political party that is lucky or unlucky to be built around one man. And for us, the progressive governors are seeing at how we sustain the party beyond the one man.
“Then you want more details to be talking about Prof Osinbajo, a man of God, professional lawyer, family man; a man that I have come to respect because I was even given the opportunity to speak on his last birthday on behalf of the governors.”
Continuing, Sule claimed he knew the Vice President very well and had come to respect him.
“We have the opportunity of having a gentleman that is a total party person loyal to Mr. President. And I believe you are selling him earlier than he is selling himself, which is the way it is supposed to be,” he added.
A month later, on October 10, the PCG moved a notch higher in imaging and messaging. It secured the recognition of the leadership of the ruling party.
In a move that will stir some political dust, the APC gave recognition to the PCG, canvassing support for Osinbajo to emerge as presidential candidate in 2023.
The APC national secretariat approved the group in a letter signed by its Director of Administration, Abubakar Suleiman.
In the letter to the group, Suleiman said the approval had the blessing of the national chairman of the party’s Caretaker Committee, Governor Mai Mala Buni.
“We write to inform you that the National Chairman, His Excellency, Mai Mala Buni, has approved your recognition as a support group of the party,” Suleiman wrote, according to a news report.
It was the first support group to be accorded such recognition by the party in this election cycle.
In 2015, another group, The National Youth Assembly was recognised by APC national headquarters.
This may signal a plan by the party top guns to shut out other contestants in the race.
Reports in the media are also suggesting that Osinbajo is set to fight the presidential battle of his life with Tinubu.
It was reported that Osinbajo has been left with no other option than to throw his hat into the ring after he was allegedly snubbed in London by Tinubu.
Tinubu had returned to Nigeria last month after spending over three months in London on medical vacation.
The two-term governor of Lagos State, whose health has been a subject of controversy was reported to have undergone knee surgery in London.
No fewer than 30 politicians, including President Buhari, Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Umar Ganduje (Kano), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), and Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), visited him in London.
The northern caucus in the House of Representatives, led by Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase, also visited the APC national leader and endorsed his candidacy for the 2023 presidency.
It was reported that Tinubu allegedly snubbed Osinbajo during his medical vacation in London.
“Essentially, Osinbajo arrived London to attend a conference and then, see Tinubu. As he arrived, he was supposed to see Tinubu the next morning but Tinubu left town by 6am the next morning to avoid seeing him. Even Adeboye (General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye) had arrived a day earlier and they planned to see Tinubu,” the source said.
The source further disclosed that the Vice President had to make up his mind after his failed bid to see Tinubu.
“Tinubu has ramped up his campaign and Osinbajo also wants to be president and both cannot be president.
“So, now the die is cast for the battle of his life. He has not decided to run but a lot of people are mobilising him to run,” the source explained.
According to another source close to Tinubu, if Osinbajo wanted to come and see him, he had enough time.
“The President came to see Asiwaju; other leaders came; Osinbajo did not come. If Osinbajo had wanted to come, he had enough time to do so. Tinubu wanted to return because he wanted to avoid the crowd in Lagos. And he returned when he did,” he explained.
Even though the supporters of Osinbajo and Tinubu have insisted that the alleged attempt to pit the two leaders against each other would fail, there are no indications that any of them will drop his presidential aspiration.
Reacting to a report where groups said to be supporting Tinubu and Osinbajo were pitted against each other over the 2023 presidency, the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Babafemi Ojudu, had said in a statement that neither the Vice President nor his office would endorse “this kind of divisive engagement and news reports”.
“Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo are members of the same party,” the former senator said.
“Osinbajo regards Tinubu as a respected leader of a political family to which he belongs and will therefore not for any reason endorse an endeavour that seeks to pit them against each other.
“We are not unaware of some people who may want to foist a crack among our leaders. Such an attempt is abortive.
Osinbajo and Tinubu relationship dates way back and it shall continue to wax strong,” Ojudu explained.
Also, the PCG stated last week that Osinbajo’s focus on his current job as well as his non-desperation had increased his level of acceptance among supporters.
According to the PCG, speculations that Osinbajo renounced a presidential bid long before he declared an interest smirks of mischief. The group added that the Vice President, who had been appealed to, to accede to public demands to declare his bid had yet to make up his mind.
Chairman of the PCG, Aliyu Kurfi, said in Abuja, penultimate Sunday, “Our dear Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), remains loyal to his boss, President Buhari. He is much focused on the job and he has never been known for desperate politicking.
“Specifically, it must be stated that an outrageous lie that the VP attended any meeting to renounce 2023 presidential ambition or bow to any politician for the same, remains an absolute falsehood; how can he renounce what he has even yet to accept or declare?
“The wishy-washy concocted reports about Professor Osinbajo holding any meeting with any individual or group about a purported withdrawal from the 2023 presidential race are about an illusory event which only happened in the fertile imagination of mischievous persons.
“Every well-informed Nigerian knows that PCG is the very first 2023 support group to be formally recognised by our progressive party, APC and we have never sought to prevent or discourage others from following in our footsteps because VP Osinbajo will not subscribe to dirty political games that some typically desperate politicians play.
“While VP Osinbajo’s consistent loyalty to Mr. President, the APC and Nigeria continues to energize an increasing number of groups and individuals who genuinely believe in our party’s progressive cause, greedy and desperate political elements, along with their manipulated perspectives, must be kept at bay.”
While it is being speculated that there is pressure on Tinubu to drop out of the 2023 presidential race, credible sources in his camp are optimistic that even if Tinubu accepts the proposal not to run, he will not back the bid of Osinbajo.
While Tinubu has not formally declared his interest to run in 2023, one of his key associates was reported as saying that he would make his position known after the APC national convention when a substantive leadership of the party would have been elected.
It is also reported that the leadership of APC is considering fielding a consensus candidate in order to reduce tension and acrimony in the party.
A high-powered delegation, led by Buni, recently visited Tinubu on his successful surgery and to intimate him on plans for the forthcoming national convention.
A close associate of Tinubu reportedly said while it was unclear whether he would listen to his supporters’ demand to run or not, Tinubu would not support Osinbajo if he declares interest in vying for the coveted position.
The source added that despite denial, Osinbajo’s relationship with Tinubu became strained during the build-up to the 2015 presidential election when APC was seeking a running mate for President Buhari.
Giving a brilliant detail of what transpired then, the source said, “Osinbajo is not in the list of those Tinubu will support. They have always had beef but a lot of people do not know because they mask it up with smile while in public. Osinbajo’s becoming President Buhari’s running mate in 2015 was just circumstantial.
“Tinubu never wanted Osinbajo as running mate to Buhari but he had no choice as the deadline for submission of the name was staring them in the face. Asiwaju was distraught because Buhari had told him they could not run together because of the controversy trailing a Muslim-Muslim ticket. He is one of those who believes that Nigerians will vote for any candidate that APC fields irrespective of whether they are of the same religion or not, like it happened in the case of MKO Abiola and Babagana Kingibe.
“Then, President Buhari put some APC governors to suggest three names from the South West as his running mate after it was clear that he could no longer run with Tinubu. On the list, Olagunsoye Oyinlola was the first; Olorunimbe Mamora was the second and Osinbajo was the third.
“When they suggested Osinbajo as one of the names on the list of those being considered as running mate, Asiwaju was very angry because he believed that Osinbajo was one of those who sold the idea to the Christian community that a Muslim-Muslim ticket will not work. He never wanted Osinbajo as running mate to Buhari.
“It took Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Papa Bisi Akande to prevail on him at a meeting in his house in Abuja before he accepted Osinbajo. Aregbesola gave him assurance that Osinbajo should be considered being a member of their political family instead of nominating an outsider. The first person Asiwaju suggested as running mate then was Olagunsoye Oyinlola.
“When the deadline for submission was fast approaching and there was no communication between Buhari and Tinubu, it was former Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, that went to Asiwaju and told him that the issue of the running mate had to be sorted out immediately as the next day was the deadline for submission. They eventually convinced him to pick Osinbajo from the three names.
“So, since Osinbajo became the Vice President, there has not been a smooth relationship between him and Asiwaju; they are just pretending that all is fine. That crack became evident recently during Asiwaju’s medical vacation in the UK. But the truth will soon be revealed as each one will know where he belongs on the issue of the 2023 presidency. However, there is nothing Buhari can’t get from Asiwaju. Maybe if he wants Osinbajo and he puts in a word for him, Tinubu will change his mind.”
“Osinbajo has his eyes set on becoming the president in 2023. There is no doubt about that. He has not come out directly but he is using some fronts as proxies. His belief is that the cabals in the presidency and those that matter in the North will not accept an Asiwaju Tinubu candidacy
“
With his eyes firmly set on the 2023 presidency, Osinbajo has already started moves to actualise his ambition, and this will definitely put him on a collision course with Tinubu.
After the Independent National Electoral Commission announced February 18, 2023 as date for the presidential election, various support groups have since swung into action to strategise and project the image of presidential aspirants nursing the ambition of succeeding Buhari.
Loyalists of Tinubu wasted no time when they inaugurated a presidential campaign movement tagged, “The South-West Agenda.”
SWAGA which was inaugurated last December in Ibadan, has Senator Dayo Adeyeye as its leader, while former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro; Senator Adesoji Akanbi, who represented Oyo South Senatorial District in the 8th Assembly; former House of Representatives member, Abayomi Ogunnusi, among others, are members of the movement.
At the inauguration of SWAGA, Adeyeye said for the discerning mind, 2023 election was already on the front burner of national discourse.
He said that was why they were asking Tinubu to join the presidential race, while urging the entire people of the South West to support by voting him in as the next president of Nigeria.
Several credible sources in the APC confirmed Osinbajo’s presidential ambition, even though majority of them pleaded for secrecy.
According to one of them, Osinbajo’s interest in the race was buoyed by the pressure by many stakeholders in the party, including associates of the president who believe that he is the “best candidate to continue from where Buhari will stop in 2023.”
He said those pushing for Osinbajo also believe that having understudied President Buhari as Vice President for over six years without showing any sign of disloyalty, Osinbajo would continue with the policies of the Buhari administration if elected president.
He said age factor and the clamour by some stakeholders in the party that if APC should zone the presidential ticket to the south, a Christian should succeed President Buhari.
“Osinbajo has his eyes set on becoming the president in 2023. There is no doubt about that. He has not come out directly but he is using some fronts as proxies. His belief is that the cabals in the presidency and those that matter in the North will not accept an Asiwaju Tinubu candidacy.
“Right now, some groups have started campaigning publicly for him and he did not restrain or disown them. Many people are not aware of this but the truth is that he has more or less relocated his base to Ikenne in Ogun State, thereby sending a signal that he is not a Lagosian.
“He has also set up some committees to help him go round the country to assess the situation, his chances and the challenges he may face. He is also banking on the belief that the Christian community in Nigeria will solidly back him,” he said.
Asked how Osinbajo will survive given the fact that he has no political base, especially in the South West, a source said the only thing Osinbajo needs is the endorsement by Buhari and Tinubu.
“It is wrong for anyone to say Osinbajo doesn’t have a political base. Stop comparing the Osinbajo of today with the one that was Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos then. Do you know what it means to be the number two man in Nigeria? I think it is childish for anyone to say that a man who has been in office as Vice President for more than six years and had also served as acting president doesn’t have political base. He has political base not just in the South West but across the country.
“The only thing he needs is the endorsement by President Buhari and blessings of Asiwaju. He may not get that of Asiwaju given the current situation but if President Buhari, who is truly the leader of the party anoints him, everyone including Asiwaju will fall in line,” he said.
When contacted, Laolu Akande, spokesperson for the Vice President, said his principal had issued several statements that he was not focused on 2023 right now and that his position remained unchanged.
In one of the statements, Osinbajo had said he had not declared any interest whatsoever in the 2023 election, but that he was rather focused on working in his capacity as Vice President in the Buhari administration to address all the compelling issues in the country.
Senator Isa Misau, who represented Bauchi Central Senatorial District in the 8th National Assembly, said Nigerians would be happy to have Osinbajo as Buhari’s successor rather than Tinubu because the country could not afford to elect another person with health challenges as president in 2023.
According to him, Nigeria’s problems are too big for a sick president to handle just like former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua succumbed to pressure, resulting in his death in 2010.
He said, “I see the Vice President as somebody who is very vibrant, young and intelligent. He is also a professor of law and very loyal to President Muhammadu Buhari. Today if the president decides to say he is going to handover to Osinbajo, I don’t think there will be any challenge and everyone will accept him, including the South West.
“If, however, they said they want to handover to Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I will say no problem. I believe that this time in Nigeria, we need somebody with sound health, both physically and mentally, to be our president.
“We can’t afford to take any risk with somebody that has health issues. Nigeria’s problems will just drain you just the way it drained former President Uma¬ru Yar’Adua. When Yar’Adua first came in, the sickness was not that much. But because of Nigeria’s problems, it drained him and he died.
“If today, they say it is Osinbajo, everybody will be happy and things will go well for us.”
“To navigate the presidency without bruises, the best Tinubu should do is to retire from active politics and assume the role of an elder statesman,” a very credible source noted.
